Greed And Credit

The intensely marketed credit business is a big mean money making machine.

  

Credit card companies are lined up for those account interest charges and have conscripted retailers to join the pack. With so many businesses involved and competing for the same loan interest profits, costs have escalated and in some areas ethics have nose dived.

Borrowing is a necessary part of living for many today where it provides assistance in buying basic necessities. Purchasing a first home or transportation for example. But taking on credit can be a drag on one's financial and personal well being, and it can be much worse when goaded into debt overload.

Credit marketers and other industries spend vast amounts of money emphasizing consumers 'need' to require more, much more than they truly need. And they make it sound easy - just charge it and own it now.

Sellers of credit work frantically to maximize profits while not necessarily providing fair value to consumers. As has been reported in the news, businesses along with their loan marketers have used some ruthless strategies in obtaining handsome profits. Slick tactics to encourage borrowing even when it is potentially hurtful is a cruel business.

These tactics have resulted in financial hardships and disasters for so many who may have been encouraged into unnecessary bad credit usage. The classic example has been the slick sales efforts of greedy companies who sold mortgages they knew were risky. But similar efforts are popular in many areas of lending and can be crippling to individuals and families who have been talked into excessive credit usage.  

MORTGAGES - Can you read this? You qualify!

Refused by bank, bad credit, bankrupt? Loans guaranteed.

  
Price gouging is not new to enterprise, in fact it can be seen regularly throughout the shopping experience. It is free enterprise where you can charge whatever someone is willing to pay. One of those gouging experts must have created the expression; "Greed is good" - though it be noxious, corrupting and hurtful. Sadly though, greed is profitable and can create wealth.

Much of the credit rates charged to borrowers have been excessively high for years, even while investment interest returns are historically low. With bank savings and term accounts paying 0.2% - 2.2% borrowing rates can be extremely higher. Retail credit card interests take off and can run as high as 29.9% on unpaid balances.

WOW! No wonder the massive marketing campaigns. Stores and others, as well as major credit card providers are circling around shoppers like a pack of wolves.

And so the continuing promotions; gross amounts of junk mail from major credit card companies, financial institutions, supermarkets, department stores and miscellaneous associations who can all issue their version of a major charge card for a fraction of the profit.

"Use your customer charge card and earn extra loyalty points." is one 'encouragement'.  But it gets worse.

Think you can entirely avoid owning and using your department store's credit charge card? It may not be that easy in the future as shrewd sellers are finding new ways to 'persuade' consumers to use their card to buy their products. I see a trend developing where increasingly the bargain price of a store item is tied to the store's charge card. No charge - no discount.

A recent trip to a department store sale had displays with products discounted in the area of 20%-30%. On some displays there were larger signs:

Use your customer charge card and earn extra loyalty points

So what are you going to do? Pay double?

You may never miss a payment but the poor soul who is struggling from payday to payday will sink deeper into debt and suffer the consequences of giving in to the persuasions.

Sure corporate mouth pieces may defend these exorbitant charges in saying their costs are high but that is largely because of the massive advertising expenditures. And then there are defaults where the trapped debtor could not pay and has declared bankruptcy.

Loan contract trickery may include confused, bloated wording and fine print; and a bag of costly surprises for the buyer after the transaction is made. This is a winning strategy for ruthless companies and now widely popular.

More negative consumer credit experiences may be coming in the news, brought on by always creative forms of corporate greed. It will be on the backs of low income families.

Consumers need fairness and protection in dealing with this type of business and it can only begin with governments that stand up for their citizens. They can investigate commercial behavior more closely, encouraging consumer input, and applying fixes that will require fair and ethical treatment of their citizens.

If they should ever care to.


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From Bank to Credit Union - My Walk Across The Street

Credit union concepts and business principles are not very common in our commercial experiences today. Yet they are such a good example of how consumers ought to be treated.

In contrast to some of my banking experiences I have always found credit union staff to be friendly, knowledgeable and very up front with my interests in mind. They do exist solely to serve their members and not to pay high dividends to share holders. The profits are returned to members, offering higher deposit rates and lower rates on loans. While bank accounts in Canada are insured for $100,000, here in British Columbia credit union accounts are covered for the entire amount.

In 1972 and relocated in a city on the Canadian west coast, I set out to cash my first paycheck. Arriving at the nearest bank I was informed by the teller that I would need to open an account. In a hurry I walked across the street to the credit union and cashed my check. After the transaction I was pleasantly asked if I wanted to open an account. I did a week later.

A dozen years passed and I was able to start a registered retirement savings plan. Instinctively I headed for the nearest bank, probably influenced by some of their advertising campaigns, and opened an account consisting of equities and mutual funds. As the years passed it seemed that the financial representatives were often too persuasive towards certain funds. After meeting with a bank financial planner with certain trades in mind I sometimes arrived home with something other than what I had intended to purchase - something that I really didn't want.

On one occasion I was interested in acquiring more of the bank's popular conservative income fund but they informed me that I could not do so. It was only open for sales to new accounts only!

Not available to a dear valued customer? Being somewhat upset I emailed my dissatisfaction to the bank's ombudsman. There was no acknowledgement but after re-submitting my complaint two weeks later I then discovered the role of the ombudsman. At least in this instance, it was to forward complaints back to the local branch manager. The manager finally called only to restate what I had already been told - the fund was open to new accounts only. After listening to some persuasions about their choices on other funds that they had to offer, the discussion ended.

The following year I decided to sell all equities and funds and invest in term deposits as, at age 73, I was particularly concerned about a very inflated stock market. It took several visits and insistence on my part but I finally got the job done and had all holdings were sold to cash. Somewhat frustrated and annoyed with the service I finally closed the RRSP turned RRIF account and transferred the funds to my credit union. The credit union's financial advisor politely suggested diversifying but did not apply any persuasions to do so, and the new RRIF now contained only staggered term deposits.

The bank's financial planner later called for an explanation of why I had migrated to the credit union. I explained my concerns about the service and the economy and stated that I wished to invest all in term deposits. When informed that 'they have term deposits too' I stated that the credit union was offering a full 1% more on a 5-year term.

To which he replied; "Well we could find something like that for you."

The World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) defines credit unions as "not-for-profit cooperative institutions." In practice however, legal arrangements vary by jurisdiction. For example in Canada credit unions are regulated as for-profit institutions, and view their mandate as earning a reasonable profit to enhance services to members and ensure stable growth. This difference in viewpoints reflects credit unions' unusual organizational structure, which attempts to solve the principal-agent problem by ensuring that the owners and the users of the institution are the same people. In any case, credit unions generally cannot accept donations and must be able to prosper in a competitive market economy. More . . . . From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_union

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Corporate and Consumer Greed

A Society of Greed?

Is this the era of greed or has it always had such popularity? We have widespread corporate political, personal and consumer greed and it is well presented in government and in our shopping environment - on both sides. We only need to turn on the TV to see it in the programs, advertising, sports and the news. It is also scattered throughout our social lives as we share experiences and increase possessions.


Whoever originally said "Greed is good" was pretty narrow minded and, well, greedy. It is not good for the victim of a greedy transaction. Nor is it good to be greedy if over years it returns distrust, anger and personal value lost.

We of the affluent societies seem to have our share of social stress as we work harder to be able to purchase that next thing. Perhaps giving our families what we have left over of ourselves and the only to have a new 'need'. We have been directed into this undesirable life style by shrewd and constant corporate marketing which is also shaping life and society for the next generation.

And with the new global economy Mahatma Gandhi's worse fears may be materializing; "God forbid that India should ever take to industrialism after the manner of the west... keeping the world in chains. If [our nation] took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip the world bare like locusts."

The drive for greater profits and personal compensation is behind most of the marketing pressures convincing us to acquire more. Faced with dishonest promotions, false advertising and labeling and a steady dose of intense marketing it has been very difficult to avoid contracting some form of this virus-like craving and indulgence. We have been programmed as a society where we cannot acquire and consume enough to be totally satisfied.

From An all-consuming greed by William Bowles ... "The problem that confronts us is that once created, undoing it is virtually impossible; who could deny working people the ‘right’ to a cheap holiday in Ibiza or Buenes Aires or the ‘right’ to own a car regardless of the damage it does to our environment (or impinge on the ‘rights’ of those who do not own a car).

And herein lies the rub as they say, we’re all along for the ride whether we want to be or not and regardless of the consequences, but the reality is that if it were not for the control of resources and markets that the capitalist world has, none of these ‘rights’ would exist in the first place."

Defined in Wikipedia
Greed is a desire to obtain more money or material possessions or bodily satisfaction than one is considered to need. A more religious term for greed is avarice, which is listed as one of the Catholic Seven Deadly Sins.

Greedy individuals are often believed to be harmful to society as their motives often appear to disregard the welfare of others: if one person is to increase in wealth, somebody else must be decreasing in wealth (assuming, of course, that a market economy is a zero sum game). However, greed has become more acceptable (and the word less frequent) in Western culture, where the desire to acquire wealth is an important part of capitalism.

When greed is applied to the subject of the excessive consumption of food or drink the term gluttony is often used, another of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Buddhists believe greed is based on incorrectly connecting material wealth with happiness. This is caused by a deluded view that exaggerates the positive aspects of an object.

Read more on Greed Defined.

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Idols, Fame and Failed Lives

Business and entertainment - success and ruin.
Another black sore on our failing social structure?

The rewards of attaining fame and fortune
can be very costly in terms of a life of happiness.


It is so unfortunate when entertainers or business tycoons strive relentlessly to achieve top rating only to find themselves in the eye of a storm of stress and torment. The final results of achieving idol status can be so devastating, in business if you err badly, but especially in the entertainment industry.

Talented individuals want to achieve success in life and to be happy, and their parents may wish this for them. But they must first pay attention to the bad news stories and picture the overall saga from start to finish. There are so many tales about attaining glory and the heartaches that go with it. Under gentle circumstances and with most careers, the arts and sports, winning can be so wonderful.

So would you encourage your talented son or daughter toward stardom? What a dilemma with all that recognition and success that could lie ahead. But again it comes down to the perception of success. A peaceful and happy family life enjoying simple and natural values seems to offer the best journey and destination. With stardom this cannot be easy at all.

The corporate entertainment machines, with profits as the main objective, have made it very difficult for stars to have both success and true happiness in their lives. So often they will be over programmed and driven into the wall, exhausted and empty. And of course there is the star's personal desire to acquire yet more, which is so prevalent in so many areas of our society.

You have read enough stories of the resulting pain and humiliation of some of the most post popular and successful stars. The list is long: Famous Celebrity Addicts. This is why I shudder when I read of children or youth talent contests.

Turning It Around: Causes and Cures for Today's Epidemic Social Problems.
Bill Allin's overview of the consequences of achieving stardom warns; "Many people would happily change lives with their idols, but they know almost nothing about the troubles these famous people endure. They would hate it.

'Before we set our hearts too much on anything, let us examine how happy are those who already possess it.' - François, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, French moralist (1613-1680)

Many (especially, but not exclusively, young people) people wish they could be rock stars. So many rock stars are either drug users or addicts or heavy users of alcohol, or both, that it's a wonder anyone would want to emulate them. True, they get adulation from the crowds, but the pressure on them to make continually more money to support growing numbers of helper employees often nets them less than their less heralded counterparts.

Music stardom brings with it fame, a double edged sword. Being recognized every time you step out your door is great for the ego for a while, but it becomes stifling when you can't appear in public anywhere without being mobbed. Stardom usually reduces a person's ability to move around in public places, including traveling, which many "unknown" people enjoy.

Movie stars have gained adoring followers since the days of silent movies. They suffer the same downside of fame as the music stars. And the same pressure to make more money and inability to move about in public without attracting greedy and grabby fans. The "stars" who inhabit the pages of supermarket tabloids have no private lives at all. The paparazzi follow them everywhere and photograph them in the most embarrassing and compromising situations possible. . . . .

As the old saying goes: The pasture always looks greener on the other side of the fence, but it looks just as brown as your own when you get up close. A newer saying goes: Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.

Read the entire article here. Bill Allin blogs and writes a commentary on various subjects, mostly social problems.

It is normal to want better, but we have to balance our goals with the cost. How much will it cost in terms of real life?

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Bad News Media's Good Stories

This is not a news story about greed, profit and deceit - quite the opposite!

With the steady stream of bad news stories that pour out of the media one has to wonder why. We will be fed the kind of information that will arouse our interest and therefore sell more advertising for the producers. Shock sells because it attracts our attention and is likely to hold on to it in the details. That is unless we refuse to take part and turn our interests elsewhere, a path that I have chosen some time ago. It can be as simple as pressing on one of the remote buttons if it's the TV. As long as we allow ourselves to watch accounts of distressful and loathsome events we will continue to supply our mind banks with more anxieties.

There are pleasing and uplifting stories but they are too few and they do not catch our attention as well as the accidents and crimes. They do not have shock 'appeal'.

Here is one such story about success and the acquiring of true riches in helping others.

I visited the Price Pro store which recently opened in the Newton area of Surrey BC. This is a new sizeable warehouse style store which retails general merchandise including a large selection of foods. But it is not your regular retail outlet. Price Pro is staffed with kindly and helpful people who have substance abuse problems or trouble with the law. They are in a "life skills academy," program and live in a nearby transition home.

There is a unique tale behind the store's motto Save Money, Change Lives. It is not news about a successful tycoon that has gone from rich to richer to jail.

From Rags to True Riches.

As a teenager John Volken came to Canada with only a few dollars, plenty of energy and lots of smarts. He worked his way up from minimum wage jobs to become an extremely successful businessman with his United Furniture Warehouse chain across Canada and the US.

John Volken also had heart.

"Having achieved his financial goal, John remembered his time in the orphanage and his dreams to one day make a difference in the lives of those in need. He searched for areas of social neglect, and in 1995 began meeting with countless advocates of the disenfranchised community. All voiced the need for long term, residential based treatment facilities, which would teach life and job skills to addicts and alcoholics or any dysfunctional members of society. For 8 years John visited and researched such facilities in the United States and Europe.

In 2004 he sold his furniture business to direct his wealth and talent as a ‘social entrepreneur’. Within a year he established a life skills academy in Seattle, WA and in Vancouver, B.C., which he named “Welcome Home”.
. . . .

Welcome Home is a sanctuary where all who are committed to turn their lives around are welcomed.
It is a place where people overcome behavioural challenges and gain or regain their dignity.
It is a place where love, respect, and tolerance co-exist with responsibility, discipline and learning.
It is a place to overcome bad habits and learn skills needed to live healthy successful lives.
Perhaps, most importantly, it is a place to call Home.

When students graduate they receive a $5,000 grant and leave Welcome Home with a new ability to retain jobs, nurture families, manage finances, and the inner strength to successfully deal with life’s challenges."

Read more about Welcome Home.
Local News story: Newton store strives to change lives.

Update: A new $50,000,000 Home has recently passed local government approval after much neighbourhood concern and discussion.

Do you think we of this era are greedier and more self-centered than they were in prior decades or long ago? Surely there were mean spirited business types and insatiable consumers way back. Some cavemen must have beat others for a piece of meat - but for a leaner cut?

I believe we have been coached and prodded to accumulate more and more money, goods and services. Through continuous fine-tuned marketing, consuming citizens have had greed programmed into them like never before. But perhaps we are cresting in our ongoing intense desires for more.

Meanwhile let's look for the good stories.

Other posts about life values

Consumer Tips to Save Money

Owl Wise Tips for saving your money

It might be much easier than you think
to save a whole lot of the dough that
you have worked so hard for.

Consider that it will be for those things
that you value and that will make life
better for you, your family and friends.

So gather and keep some valuable tips.
Then take them on your shopping trips.

Consumer Action Website: For larger purchases be wary of fraud

• A deal that sounds too good to be true usually is! Be wary of promises to fix your credit problems, low-interest credit cards, deals that let you skip credit card payments, business/job opportunities, risk-free investments, and free travel.
• Extended warranties and service contracts are rarely worth what you pay for them.
• Say no to credit insurance offers. Often offered with credit cards, car loans and home mortgages, it is almost always better to purchase regular property, life or disability insurance.
• There is no universal three-day cooling-off period. Don't be misled into thinking that you have an automatic three days to cancel a purchase. Only a few types of contracts give you a right to cancel.
• Don't share personal information with someone you don't trust.
• Beware of payday and tax refund loans. Interest rates on these loans are usually excessive. Even a cash advance on a credit card could be a better option.
• Not all plastic cards offer the same protections. Your liability for the unauthorized use of a gift card and debit/ATM card may be much higher than the $50 maximum on your credit card.
• Real estate agents represent the seller – not the buyer. When buying, consider hiring an agent or lawyer who represents you.
• Home improvement and auto repairs are the subject of frequent complaints. Getting a second opinion can help prevent costly mistakes and enable you to make better decisions.
• Think twice before you rent-to-own. Interest rates on rent-to-own purchases can be very high. If you miss a payment, you could end up with nothing. Consider buying second-hand at a thrift shop or through ads in your local newspaper.
• Don't buy under stress. Avoid making big-ticket purchases during times of duress (e.g. coping with a death or debt).
• Be cautious of Buy Here, Pay Here lots. If you decide to buy a car from a used car lot, be sure to read all of the papers before you sign. Don't sign contracts that allow the dealership to change the finance rate AFTER you leave the lot.
• Work-at-home ads usually don't pay off. Be especially wary of ads that promise huge annual salaries; they often require expensive upfront fees with no guarantee. You risk losing your money and wasting a lot of time and energy.

Easy ways to save on every trip to the supermarket from Consumer Reports.
Think of supermarkets as giant selling machines, where traffic patterns, product placement, smells, displays, and signs lure you to spend more time cruising the aisles and more money at the checkout.
Example tip: Eye end caps. Some shoppers assume that products on aisle ends are on sale . . .
Read 13 Ways to Save at the Supermarket

Check out The Canadian Marketing Association's Smart Shopping Tips:
Tips for smart shopping by phone or mail.
Tips for smart shopping by television.
Tips for smart shopping from the Internet.

US Federal Citizen Information Center: Credit and charge card information.

Zen Habits: The Cheapskate Guide: 50 Tips for Frugal Living has lots of good ideas.

Select Home Energy Saving Tips

The notion is becoming very popular as the new President of the United States brings energy to the top of his agenda. Saving energy is extremely important to save the environment and to ensure a sound economic future.

And it gets personal - it can save a lot of money.

Confused with pages of tips scattered all over the web, mostly with short outlines with a few good ideas? Looking for a more comprehensive and detailed list of energy saving ideas?

There are some websites with great lists of suggestions on how to save energy, resources and your hard earned money. Here are a few good sources with nice specifics for saving energy at home.

Natural Resources Canada has a great list with explanations.
Tips on Saving Energy in Your Home includes Caulking, Lighting, Plumbing, Ceiling fans, Landscaping, Weather stripping, Storm doors, Appliances, and Miscellaneous. A good place to start!

Another great source is
The Co-op America Quarterly Summer 2008: Efficiency First
Level 1: Simple Things You Can Do Today. Save up to 33 percent of your energy use!
Level 2: A Little More Time, A Lot More Savings. Save up to 56 percent of your energy use!
Level 3: Bigger Changes, Better Paybacks. Save up to 66 percent of your energy use!

MasterYourCard's 101 Ways to Go Green and Save Money also has a long list of green ways to save in and outside the home.

We must all get involved for a better world, and save ourselves a lot of money while we're at it. This is just too important not to learn and do.

Saving Money Such a Great Idea

Why would you want to save money? Why not go all out with your spending today, you may not be here tomorrow?

You will be here tomorrow and for many many days after. Days in which you can feel more secure and glad that you are less in debt or have a comfortable stash put away for that something special. There is also a benefit to the environment in not overbuying.

And you should even feel better today if you realize that money you didn't spend couldn't purchase any real happiness anyway.

Ideas and tips on saving and why it is such a great lifestyle way.

ZenHabits puts it this way in Tip #20: Find happiness in life, not spending.
Many times people buy stuff because they think (subconsciously perhaps) that it will bring them happiness. They just HAVE to have the latest gadget or shoes or cars. It’s so fun! And yet, you buy that stuff, and you’re only happy for a day or two at most. Then you just need to buy more. It’s a never-ending cycle. Instead, learn to love life. Find joy in nature! In the people around you! In doing something you love! In exercise and meditation! There’s so much in life to make us happy, there’s no need to find it in spending.
From: 20 Money Hacks: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Finances.


And from bankrate.com in 9 best reasons to save money
Reason #9 It just plain feels good.
Most savers see the long-term rewards as worthwhile -- and not just financially. "The more you put away, the more you want to put away," D'Arruda says. "You start feeling good, and you get a better feeling of self-worth when you're saving."


Marc and Angel Hack Life's 18 Means for Living Below Your Means starts off with
Live a comfortable life, not a wasteful one. Do not spend to impress others. Do not live life trying to fool yourself into thinking wealth is measured in material objects. Manage your money wisely so your money does not manage you. Always live well below your means.

And Pecuniarities has a long list of tips: 101 Ways to Save Money in Everyday Life
Here we offer 101 suggestions for plugging expenditures in various aspects of your life - around the house, in your personal care, transportation, recreation and more.

A very simple sample budget. - MoneyInstructor.com

Get to it and enjoy living more.

Credit and Credit Card Tips

Encouraged by greedy marketers consumers can get over extended on their credit cards to the point of personal financial disaster. There are numerous traps to watch for in advertising and account contracts.

They want your money! But they are not the only ones. Credit card fraud is also on the rise as creative criminals discover new ways to tap into our credit.

This segment of commerce needs to adopt sensible and fair guidelines for promoting and selling credit. And we need to know as much as possible about using credit and how to keep our credit accounts safe.

Credit Card Cautions

Chances are you've received "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail. Examine the fine print carefully before you accept any offer for a credit or charge card. Look for:

* The Annual Percentage Rate (APR). If the interest rate is variable, how is it determined and when can it change?
* The periodic rate. This is the interest rate used to figure the finance charge on your balance each billing period.
* The annual fee. While some cards have no annual fee, others expect you to pay an amount each year for being a cardholder.
* The grace period. This is the number of days you have to pay your bill before finance charges start. Without this period, you may have to pay interest from the date you use your card or when the purchase is posted to your account.
* The finance charges. Most lenders calculate finance charges using an average daily account balance, which is the average of what you owed each day in the billing cycle. Look for offers that use an adjusted balance, which subtracts your monthly payment from your beginning balance. This method usually has the lowest finance charges. Stay away from offers that use the previous balance in calculating what you owe; this method has the highest finance charge. Also don't forget to check if there is a minimum finance charge.
* Other fees. Ask about special fees when you get a cash advance, make a late payment, or go over your credit limit. Some companies charge a monthly fee regardless of whether you use your card.

The Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act requires credit and charge card issuers to include this information on credit applications. The Federal Trade Commission offers a wide range of free publications on credit and consumer rights at www.ftc.gov. The Federal Reserve Board provides a free brochure on choosing a credit card and a guide to credit protection laws at www.federalreserve.gov.

Comparing Cards

* Bank Rate provides free credit card tips and information.
* Consumer Action has a site that features credit card surveys of interest rates, fees and other terms from dozens of credit cards, as well as free brochures and guides on choosing and using credit cards.

Lost and Stolen Credit Cards

Immediately call the card issuer when you suspect a credit or charge card has been lost or stolen. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies.

By US federal law, once you report the loss or theft of a card, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges. In any event, your maximum liability under federal law is $50 per card.

Complaints

To complain about a problem with your credit card company, call the company first and try to resolve the problem. If you fail to resolve the issue, ask for the name, address and phone number of its regulatory agency.

In the US if the word national appears in the name or the letters N.A. appear after the name, the Office of the Comptroller oversees its operations.

To complain about a credit bureau, department store or other FDIC-insured financial institution, write to the Consumer Response Center. You may also file a complaint online at www.ftc.gov.

Source and more consumer topics at the US Consumer Action Website

Purchasing Tips and Cautions

Most of us have bought products or services that have later disappointed. Whether it was our mistaken ideas, deceptive advertising, pressure sales tactics or inferior quality, we are fuming!!

With all the marketing hype pummeled at us it's easy to make a purchase of the wrong thing or from the wrong place. There are sellers that want as much of our money as they can get. Cautions should be taken especially when considering the purchase of costlier items and services.

When I think that I have made a decision to buy something expensive I consider waiting another six months if it's not immediately required. At the end of this time I have often not wanted it after all, or preferred a different type or model, and am happy to be able to do so.

The FCIC's Consumer Action Website has some pre-purchasing advice which is worth reviewing before dishing out large sums of our hard earned money.

General Buying Tips - Before You Buy

To avoid problems and make better decisions, use this checklist BEFORE you make a purchase.

Decide in advance exactly what you want and what you can afford.
Don’t buy on impulse or under pressure, including donating to charity. Do your research.
Ask family, friends and others you trust for advice based on their experience.
Gather information about both the seller and the item or service you are purchasing.
Review product test results and other information from consumer experts.
Get advice and price quotes from several sellers.
Make sure that the seller has all appropriate licenses.
Check out a company’s complaint record with your consumer affairs office and BBB.
Get a written copy of guarantees and warranties. Compare their features.
Get the seller’s refund, return and cancellation policies.
Ask who to contact if you have a question or problem.
Read and understand any contract or legal document you are asked to sign
Make sure there are no blank spaces. Insist extras you are promised be put in writing.
Read the fine print.
Consider paying by credit card. You can dispute a charge made on your credit card.

Source from : The Consumer Action Website of the Federal Citizen Information Center.

And get in the habit of filing all your receipts, including those for smaller items such as groceries. Most items can be easily returned at retail stores.

Public Transportation Vacation

I'm surprised that most people will opt to use their cars rather than public transportation even when it is not to their advantage. For example taking public transit into Vancouver city center from South Surrey can be quicker, even during rush traffic, as it uses the fast lane and rapid transit and only makes several stops. It is also cheaper when you add up fuel and parking. And it's so much more relaxing.

And how about vacations?

Several years ago my wife and I vacationed a week in the LA area and began with a few days using public transit. Having schedules made it quite easy to get to the beach and to downtown for our trial run. This worked even better on our entire Waikiki/Honolulu trip as I had pre-ordered a booklet on using the bus system there. On some vacations this can be an interesting, economical and environmental friendly way to get around.

In the Money and Values blog a post by Penny Nickel offers 15 tips for a frugal, relaxing, earth-friendly vacation that's car-free!

If your travel plans are focused on cities, then public transportation (combined with a reasonable amount of good old-fashioned walking) may work better than you think to get you where you want to go. Yes, some cities do have totally lousy/nonexistent public transit, but there are a lot whose systems are just so-so and yet do a perfectly good job of connecting you to most or all of the attractions you're interested in, not to mention the many cities with genuinely excellent public transportation.

Don't let nervousness about riding an unfamiliar public transit system hold you back! I've found repeatedly that doing a little basic research ahead of time is all you really need to get the hang of virtually any city's system. (Actually, I've also generally found that even when I'm unprepared and skip many of the steps below, I'm still able to get by fine in a strange city's transit system!)

Read 15 tips for a frugal, relaxing, earth-friendly vacation that's car-free! . . . .

Related posts

Identity Theft Info and Tips

Worried about your social security or credit card information falling into the wrong Hands? Need to know about phishing, skimming and other new age personal crime methods? Identity theft is on the rise with new creative techniques catching victims unaware.

The US Federal Trade Commission has some pertinent information on the topic that is worth reviewing.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector.

Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record. Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.

How do thieves steal an identity?

Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For identity thieves, this information is as good as gold.

Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:

1. Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
5. Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
6. Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources. For more information about pretexting, click here.

For more information on identity theft such as . . .
What do thieves do with a stolen identity?
How can you find out if your identity was stolen?
What should you do if your identity is stolen?
Should you file a police report if your identity is stolen?
How long can the effects of identity theft last?
What can you do to help fight identity theft?
Read the FTC's About Identity Theft

7 Simple Environment Tips

7 Simple ways to Help The Environment and Your Wallet
By Juan Anselmo Borla

The world is a big place with big problems. Some environmental activists demand we stop living our lives and look at everything we do as an Earth-changing event, but not everyone can focus their entire lives around saving the planet. The truth is that it isn't necessary to make drastic changes in one's life to make a difference. It isn't even necessary to spend more money to be environmentally conscious. Below are seven simple ways to make a difference in the environment, and save money doing it.

1. Buying compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent ones. Advances in technology have led to a light bulb that's designed to last up to 15 times the life of a standard bulb. They cost more up front, but they are replaced much less often, which makes them cheaper in the long run. Plus, these bulbs will use less than a third of the power of incandescents, which will reduce electricity costs. They also generate less heat, so less air-conditioning is needed in the summer.

2. Reusing shopping bags. Every bag reused is one less bag that needs to be manufactured. Also, several supermarket chains have started giving small credits towards their customers' bills when they bring in old bags to reuse. Some people like to keep old shopping bags in their trunk, just in case. Even more of an improvement would be using non-disposable canvas bags - they still count towards the credit at the check-out, but are made from eco-friendly materials.

3. Carpooling. Most people associate carpooling with going to work, but there are many other opportunities to share a ride. A great deal of money could be saved on gasoline by one car going to the mall rather than two. Also, with a little planning, shopping trips could be taken less frequently.

4. Turning off the water when not in use. Simple things like using half a sink full of water to wash dishes instead of running the water can prevent waste. Turning the water off while brushing your teeth is also a good idea. Finally, making sure faucets aren't left dripping will make a significant difference in water bills.

5. Completely turning off electronics. A great many of today's appliances and electronics have a standby mode. Televisions and stereos in particular tend to use a great deal of electricity while on standby. Plugging devices into a power strip that has an on/off switch can give consumers more control over their electricity use. Particular attention should be paid to anything with a big transformer plug, as these devices tend to use the most power and waste the most money.

6. Turning off the air-conditioning and/or heat when leaving the house. A great deal of electricity is wasted cooling or heating an empty home, which leads to bigger bills. Even setting the temperature one or two degrees different, keeping the system from activating as often, can save significant amounts of money each year.

7. Turning off the lights. A good rule of thumb is, "light is useless if there's nobody there." Turning off any ceiling fans, floor fans and lights when leaving the room saves just a little bit of electricity, and money, every time it's done.

Of course, there are many more ways to help the environment while saving money. These seven are simply among the most often overlooked easy solutions. Public libraries and environmental websites are great sources of further information.

About the Author
Juan Anselmo Borla is a freelance writer and poet. He lives at Dancing Rabbit, a sustainable ecovillage in northeast Missouri. There, he hopes to make the world a better place by using his Chemical Engineering degree to develop an alternative fuels program. His fiancee and two cats hope he doesn't blow himself up in the process.


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